Definite Integrals 14.2

Introduction
When you were rst introduced to integration as the reverse of dierentiation, the integrals
you dealt with were indenite integrals. The result of nding an indenite integral is usually a
function plus a constant of integration. In this Block we introduce denite integrals, so called
because the result will be a denite answer, usually a number, with no constant of integration.
Denite integrals have many applications, for example in nding areas bounded by curves, and
nding volumes of solids.

understand integration as the reverse of
Prerequisites dierentiation
Before starting this Block you should . . . be able to use a table of integrals

Learning Outcomes Learning Style

After completing this Block you should be able To achieve what is expected of you . . .
to . . .
nd some simple denite integrals
allocate sucient study time
handle some integrals involving an in-
nite limit of integration
briey revise the prerequisite material

attempt every guided exercise and most

of the other exercises
1. What is a Definite Integral

We saw in the previous block that f (x)dx = F (x) + c where F (x) is that function which, when
dierentiated, gives f (x). That is, dF
dx
= f (x). For example,

cos(3x)
sin(3x)dx = +c
3
Here, f (x) = sin(3x) and F (x) = 13 cos(3x) We now consider a denite integral which is simply
an indenite integral but with numbers written to the upper and lower right of the integral sign.
The quantity  b
f (x) dx
a
is called the denite integral of f (x) from a to b. The numbers a and b are known as the lower
limits and upper limits respectively of the integral. We dene
 b
f (x)dx = F (b) F (a)
a
so that a denite integral is usually a number. The meaning of a denite integral will be
developed in later blocks. For the present we concentrate on the process of evaluating denite
integrals.

2. Evaluating Definite Integrals

When you evaluate a denite integral the result will usually be a number. To see how to evaluate
a denite integral consider the following example.
4
Example Find the denite integral of x2 from 1 to 4; that is, nd 1
x2 dx

Solution
Now 
x2 dx = 13 x3 + c

x3
Here f (x) = x2 and F (x) = 3
. Thus, according to our denition
 4
43 13
x2 dx = F (4) F (1) = = 21
1 3 3

Now writing F (b) F (a) each time we calculate a denite integral becomes laborious so we
replace this dierence by the shorthand notation [F (x)]ba . Thus
[F (x)]ba F (b) F (a)
Thus, from now on, we shall write
 b
f (x)dx = [F (x)]ba
a
so that, for example
 4  4
x3 43 13
2
x dx = = = 21
1 3 1 3 3

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14.2: Integration
  /2
Example Find the denite integral of cos x from 0 to 2 ; that is, nd 0
cos x dx.

Solution

Since cos xdx = sin x + c then
 /2
cos x dx = [sin x]/2
0
0
 
= sin sin 0
2
= 10
= 1

Always remember, that if you use a calculator to evaluate any trigonometric functions, you must
work in radian mode.

Try each part of this exercise

2
Find the denite integral of x2 + 1 from 1 to 2; that is; nd 1 (x2 + 1)dx

Part (a) First perform the integration

Answer

Part (b) Now insert the limits of integration, the upper limit rst, and hence nd the value of
the integral.
Answer

Now do this exercise

1
Find 2 (x2 + 1)dx.
(This exercise is very similar to the previous one. Note the limits of integration have been
interchanged.) Answer
Note from these two exercises that interchanging the limits of integration, changes the sign of
the answer.

Key Point
If you interchange the limits, you must introduce a minus sign:
 b  a
f (x) dx = f (x) dx
a b

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14.2: Integration
More exercises for you to try
 1  3
2 1
1. Evaluate a) x dx, b) 2
dx
 2 0 2 x

2. Evaluate ex dx
1 1
3. Evaluate (1 + t2 )dt
 /3 1
4. Find cos 2xdx
0
5. Find sin xdx
0 3
6. Find e2t dt
1
Answer

3. Some Integrals with Infinite Limits

On occasions, and notably when dealing with Laplace and Fourier transforms, you will come
across integrals in which one of the limits is innite. We avoid a rigorous treatment of such
cases here and instead give some commonly occurring examples.


Example Find the denite integral of e x
from 0 to ; that is, nd ex dx.
0

Solution
The integral is found in the normal way:


ex dx = ex 0
0

There is no diculty in evaluating the square bracket at the lower limit. We obtain simply
e0 = 1. At the upper limit we must examine the behaviour of ex as x gets innitely
large. This is where it is important that you are familiar with the properties of the exponential
function. If you refer to the graph you will see that as x tends to innity ex tends to zero.
Consequently the contribution to the integral from the upper limit is zero. So

  x
ex dx = e 0
0
= (e ) (e0 ) ex
= (0) (e0 )
= 1
x

Thus the value of 0
ex dx is 1.

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14.2: Integration
Another way of achieving this result is as follows:
We change the innite limit to a nite limit, b, say and then examine the behaviour of the
integral as b tends to innity, written
  b
x
e dx = lim ex dx
0 b 0

Now,  b  b


ex dx = ex 0 = eb e0 = eb + 1
0

Then as b tends to innity eb tends to zero, and the resulting integral has the value 1, as
before.
Many integrals having innite limits cannot be evaluated in a simple way like this, and many
cannot be evaluated at all. Fortunately, most of the integrals you will meet will exhibit the sort
of behaviour seen in the last example.

More exercises for you to try

  
x 2x
1. a) Find e dx b) Find e dx c) Find e3x dx
1 0 2
Answer

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14.2: Integration
4. Computer Exercise or Activity

For this exercise it will be necessary for you to access the

computer package DERIVE.
DERIVE can be used to obtain denite integrals.

For example to nd the denite integral of cos 3x from 1 to 3 you would key in Author:Expression
cos(3x) followed by Calculus:Integrate. Then, in the Variable box choose x and in the Integral
box choose Denite. The Denite integral box then requests Lower and Upper limits. Key in
1 in the Lower box and 3 in the Upper box. If you hit the OK button DERIVE responds with
3
COS(3 x)dx If instead you hit the Simplify button DERIVE responds with the denite
1
SIN(9) SIN(3)
integral You will need to Simplify:Approximate to obtain the numerical value
3 3
of 0.0903329 (6dp) As an alternative approach you could use the INT function. This takes the
form INT(f unction, variable) for indenite integrals
 and INT(f unction, variable, lower, upper)
for denite integrals. So, for example, to nd cos(3x)dx you would key in INT(cos(3x), x) and
 3
SIN(3 x)
DERIVE responds with Similarly, to nd cos(3x)dx you would key in INT(cos(3x), x, 1, 3)
3 1
SIN(9) SIN(3)
and DERIVE responds with DERIVE can also be used to obtain denite inte-
3 3 
grals containing innite limits. For example, to nd ex dx you would key in INT(
e(x), x, 1, );
1
followed by Simplify. DERIVE responds with the value 1. (Dont forget to use e for the expo-
nential number e, and nd from the toolbar in the Expression box).

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 End of Block 14.2

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14.2: Integration
1 2
3
x3 + x 1 .

Back to the theory

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14.2: Integration

8 

3
+ 2 13 + 1 = 10
3
or 3.333 (3dp).

Back to the theory

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14.2: Integration
 10
3
.

Back to the theory

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14.2: Integration
 1 1
1. a) , b) , 2. e2 e1 = 4.671. 3. 2.667. 4. 3/4 = 0.4330. 5. 2.
3 6
6. 198.

Back to the theory

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14.2: Integration
1. a) e1 or 0.368. b) 12 . c) 13 e6 = 0.0008 (4dp).

Back to the theory

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14.2: Integration